16 October 1998
Elworthy to shoulder pace burden
Trevor Chesterfield
Centurion (South Africa) - Once he was looked on as the
"bridesmaid" and may-be all-rounder of the South African squad.
Now Steve Elworthy shapes up for the toughest challenge of his
short international career.
Not the sort to shrug off the demands needed at such a
competitive level, Elworthy, or "Shots" to his Northerns and Test
teammates takes over the role of South Africa's main strike
bowler for the ICC knock-out event in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Sunday
week.
He stoically accepted the decision by Peter Pollock's national
selection panel not to replace the injured Shaun Pollock in a
series where, at most South Africa will play three limited-overs
internationals. It cuts the squad to 13 with the reasoning behind
the UCB policy decision that "an extra player" would merely warm
the bench and would possibly only be useful as a net bowler.
It also means that Makhaya Ntini now get a second chance to
prove himself in the spicy Asian sub-continental cauldron of
competition and what is a mini World Cup. For Elworthy, however,
it means a chance to show off his skills on the ultra slow
surface at the national stadium.
Named Standard Bank Player of the year in the first two
consecutive season's of the limited overs series Elworthy was
wondering toward the end of March whether he would ever earn a
place in the national squad. Now he becomes, with Jacques Kallis
and Alan Dawson as part of the front line attack. "It is nice to
know that (national) selectors feel I have the ability to carry
the South African attack in such a series," he said yesterday. "I
feel sorry for Shaun (Pollock and that he has been forced to
withdraw through injury.
"What it does do is place me under pressure to perform and I am
confident I can handle such a challenge," Elworthy added.
Dr Ali Bacher, managing director of the United Cricket Board,
confirming there would be no replacement for the injured Pollock,
said the decision had been made in light of how the tournament
was being run.
"We are going into a tournament where the side will be playing
three games should they qualify for the final," he said. "It was
felt that under the circumstances it would be better to keep the
squad at 13."
Which supports Elworthy's view that the selectors have decided to
entrust the Titans all-rounder with the role initially outlined
for Pollock in the squad for the Bangladesh tournament.
Pollock said that the injury had not shown up on x-rays and at
this stage specialist were undecided was wrong.
"I first hurt myself in Kuala Lumpur and aggravated it during a
friendly against Gauteng," he said yesterday. "When I was reduced
to a hobble I knew then that something was really wrong."
Pollock sought specialist advice in Pretoria and had a trial run
at Kingsmead in Durban on Wednesday but was unhappy with the
result of the fitness trial.
Strangely, despite intense speculation earlier in the week, most
South African newspapers missed the story Pollock had been forced
to withdraw; The Star (Johannesburg) and Mercury (Durban) carried
an item that his fitness test still to be held while the Cape
Times and Daily Despatch (East London) ignored it altogether.
along with the national television broadcaster SATV.
In fact SATV have so far cold shouldered the Bangladesh event,
concentrating more on the West Indies tour starting near month.
They have also placed a blanket ban on carrying results of the
Standard Bank domestic series because it being televised by the
pay channel M-Net.
There is also doubt whether South Africa's game against England
in Dhaka on September 25 will be carried live; a 25 minutes
highlight package may be screened after 11pm that night or the
next morning.
Source:: Trevor Chesterfield, Pretoria News